Saturday, May 18, 2013
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
99 CENTS

AP Source: NCAA says 3 former coaches misled probe

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The NCAA believes former Miami assistant coaches Clint Hurtt, Aubrey Hill and Jorge Fernandez provided false or misleading information during the probe into the Hurricanes’ athletic department.

The NCAA said all three violated “principles of ethical conduct” as part of the notice of allegations served against the Hurricanes, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the allegations have not been released publicly.

Hurtt and Hill were members of Miami’s football staff. Fernandez worked on the men’s basketball staff.

Several other coaches are named or referenced in the allegations, including Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith, who is alleged of failing “to promote an atmosphere for compliance.” But only Hurtt, Hill and Fernandez are facing the ethical-conduct charge, commonly known as NCAA Rule 10.1.

Hurtt is currently on the staff at Louisville. Hill is not working as a coach at this time, and Fernandez spent last season as an assistant at Marshall, resigning last May.

The notice of allegations was delivered to Miami on Tuesday, and the university is facing the charge that it had a “lack of institutional control” — one of the worst things the NCAA can levy against a member school. The charge revolves around how the school allegedly failed to monitor conduct of Nevin Shapiro, a rogue booster and convicted felon who provided cash, gifts and other items to players on the football and men’s basketball teams.

University President Donna Shalala said Tuesday night that the Hurricanes have suffered enough already through self-imposed sanctions. Through a university spokesman, she declined further comment Wednesday.

The NCAA said Hurtt and Hill committed the same violations, at least related to the ethical-conduct matter.

The sanctions portion of this saga could take several months. The NCAA has asked some of the people who are facing major charges to respond by May 20, which means that under ordinary circumstances a hearing before the Committee on Infractions would then take place, followed by the issuing of penalties even later.

The NCAA alleged both provided meals, transportation and lodging to either recruits, current players, or both in either 2008 or 2009. Both were interviewed by the NCAA during the course of its probe and allegedly denied providing those extra benefits, statements the NCAA said were contradicted in each case by what players told them separately.

Hurtt also took a $2,500 personal loan from Shapiro, which was repaid. The NCAA also believes he sent about 40 impermissible text messages to recruits, which typically is a secondary, or minor, violation.

Fernandez, the NCAA alleged, “knowingly provided extra benefits” in the form of an air ticket. The NCAA said Fernandez denied using air miles for the tickets for a men’s basketball player and a high school coach, despite evidence to the contrary.

In February 2012, Miami center Reggie Johnson was ruled ineligible by the school after an investigation revealed that members of his family accepted “impermissible travel benefits” from a member of the school’s former coaching staff, without specifying Fernandez or anyone else by name. The university said Johnson was not aware of the benefits, personally accepted nothing and that his family had been told they were allowed.

Johnson was reinstated quickly last season, and remains a key part of this season’s team — now ranked No. 2 in the nation and leading the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ongoing cloud of the scandal is not hurting the Hurricanes, basketball coach Jim Larranaga said Tuesday night.

“If it was overshadowing what we were doing, this room would not be packed,” Larranaga said after his team beat Virginia. “We’re getting so much exposure. We can only focus on the things we have control over. We have nothing to do with the investigation.”

Several other former Miami coaches are named in the allegations as well, including one-time men’s basketball assistant Jake Morton, who the NCAA said, among other things, accepted “supplemental income” of at least $6,000 from Shapiro. Morton is now on the staff at Western Kentucky.

Haith’s charge is specific to how he handled things when Shapiro allegedly wanted money in exchange for not going public with accusations that he paid to help the Hurricanes recruit a player.

“After learning of the threat, Haith failed to alert anyone in the athletics department administration about Shapiro’s threat, ask reasonable questions of Morton to ensure that Shapiro’s claim lacked merit or disclose the fact that Morton engaged in financial dealings with Shapiro,” read Haith’s portion of the notice of allegations, which Missouri revealed Wednesday. “Rather, Haith gave Morton funds that Morton then provided to Shapiro.”

Missouri has been told by the NCAA that it, as an institution, does not face any possible sanctions, but that Haith’s ability to coach may be affected “if he is found in violation by the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions or the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee.”

Some of the allegations in the letter the NCAA delivered Tuesday to Miami are more than 10 years old, including a claim that Shapiro bought a suit for former Miami star running back Willis McGahee to wear to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in 2002.

Other allegations include that he paid for dinners at Benihana, televisions, sneakers, Miami Heat tickets, bowling parties, one player’s engagement ring, a used washer-dryer set for current New England Patriots lineman Vince Wilfork, and that he directed his girlfriend to give two former Hurricanes no-show jobs for a couple of months.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

LEAVE A COMMENT

Discussion | No comments

The Daily Republic does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy

.

Solano News

Solano unemployment rate drops

By Barry Eberling | From Page: A1

 
Epps, longtime resident, businessman, dies

By Barry Eberling | From Page: A1

Lake Berryessa has activities amid transition

By Barry Eberling | From Page: A1, 1 Comment | Gallery

 
 
Accused goat abuser posts bail

By Jess Sullivan | From Page: A3

 
Purchase of 15 new police vehicles up for vote

By Danny Bernardini | From Page: A3

Commission looking to honor youth-friendly businesses

By Danny Bernardini | From Page: A3

 
Vaca Pena eighth-graders tackle adult finances

By Barry Eberling | From Page: A3

Senior caregiving workshop on tap for June

By Susan Winlow | From Page: A4

 
Daily Republic seeks good news for column

By Daily Republic staff | From Page: A4

Safe Routes to School summit set Thursday

By Barry Eberling | From Page: A4

 
 
Mom proud to see last Eagle Scout fly the coop

By Heather Ah San | From Page: B10 | Gallery

Matchbook covers elicit fond memories of the past

By Murray Bass | From Page: B10

 
Don’t let kids reading slide this summer

By Yvette Klemm | From Page: B10

Weather for Saturday, May 18, 2013

By Daily Republic staff | From Page: B11

 
.

US / World

The IRS and its tea party tempest

By The Associated Press | From Page: A1

 
Treasury officials told of IRS probe in June 2012

By The Associated Press | From Page: A1

GOP hopes IRS scandal will snag health care law

By The Associated Press | From Page: A1

 
Mourners gather to remember Malcolm X’s grandson

By The Associated Press | From Page: A4 | Gallery

UC elective surgeries canceled as strike looms

By The Associated Press | From Page: A4

 
Calif. AG meets with new task force on guns

By The Associated Press | From Page: A4 | Gallery

Analyst pegs revenue $3.2B higher than Gov. Brown

By The Associated Press | From Page: A5

 
Navy pilot earns degree in combat zone

By The Associated Press | From Page: A5 | Gallery

Marine, dog reunited in surprise ceremony

By The Associated Press | From Page: A6

 
Hagel orders review of sex-abuse prevention

By The Associated Press | From Page: A6 | Gallery

‘American Idol’ finale draws record low ratings

By The Associated Press | From Page: A7

 
Feds: More time needed to indict Tsarnaev

By The Associated Press | From Page: A10

Failing Ga. student accused of faking kidnapping

By The Associated Press | From Page: A10

 
OJ’s ex-lawyer contradicts his testimony on guns

By The Associated Press | From Page: A10

‘Mother’s instincts’: NM woman chased abductor

By The Associated Press | From Page: A10 | Gallery

 
Canada abuzz over purported crack video of mayor

By The Associated Press | From Page: A11

Bombs kill 9 inside elite Afghan housing complex

By The Associated Press | From Page: A11

 
Bombs targeting Sunnis kill at least 76 in Iraq

By The Associated Press | From Page: A11

Venezuela’s military enters high-crime slums

By The Associated Press | From Page: A11 | Gallery

 
.

Opinion

Cheers, jeers for the week of May 12-18, 2013

By Daily Republic | From Page: A8

 
Tavey the right choice

By Letter to the Editor | From Page: A8

OK to disagree with VA decisions

By Ted Puntillo | From Page: A8

 
Editorial cartoons May 18, 2013

By Daily Republic | From Page: A8

LNG exports could hurt state’s recovery

By Thomas Elias | From Page: A8

 
.

Living

Today in history for May 18, 2013

By The Associated Press | From Page: A2

 
Hello muddah? Not everyone loved sleepaway camp

By The Associated Press | From Page: A2

Community calendar Saturday, May 18, 2013

By John Glidden | From Page: A2

 
Horoscopes for May 18, 2013

By Holiday Mathis | From Page: B5

 
.

Entertainment

TVGrid

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: A5

 
Jordan finally front and center in ‘Fruitvale’

By The Associated Press | From Page: A7

Travis sues to block DWI patrol car video release

By The Associated Press | From Page: A7

 
‘The Voice’ brings back Aguilera, Cee Lo Green

By The Associated Press | From Page: A7

Sugarland’s Nettles signs up Rubin, goes solo

By The Associated Press | From Page: A7

 
.

Sports

Mayor: Deal to sell Kings has been signed

By The Associated Press | From Page: B1

 
Captivating season gives Warriors hope for future

By The Associated Press | From Page: B1 | Gallery

Rodriguez’s Houston, Reed capture SJS Division I 400 crowns

By Brian Arnold | From Page: B1 | Gallery

 
Sharks look to bounce back from tough Game 2 loss

By The Associated Press | From Page: B1

 
Adam Rosales’ go-ahead homer lifts A’s past Royals

By The Associated Press | From Page: B2

Tejay van Garderen wins 6th stage, extends lead

By The Associated Press | From Page: B2

 
Orb favored to take Preakness, set up Triple Crown try

By The Associated Press | From Page: B2 | Gallery

Rockies end 10-game skid vs Giants with 10-9 win

By The Associated Press | From Page: B2 | Gallery

 
Local sports for Saturday, May 18, 2013

By Daily Republic staff | From Page: B3

Sports on TV for Saturday, May 18, 2013

By Daily Republic staff | From Page: B3

 
.

Business

Record Powerball jackpot inspires office pools

By The Associated Press | From Page: A1

 
Rreinvented garages house hobbies and work

By Scripps Howard News Service | From Page: C2

Real estate transactions for May 18, 2013

By Daily Republic | From Page: C3

 
A year after IPO, Facebook aims to be ad colossus

By The Associated Press | From Page: B6 | Gallery

GM stock rises above $33 for first time in 2 years

By The Associated Press | From Page: B6

 
Hits and misses in Facebook’s history

By The Associated Press | From Page: B6

.

Obituaries

William M. Walker

By John Glidden | From Page: A4

 
Walter D. Cowan

By John Glidden | From Page: A4

Luis M. Flores

By John Glidden | From Page: A4

 
.

Comics

B.C.

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

 
Fort Knox

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

For Better or Worse

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

 
Dilbert

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

Get Fuzzy

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

 
Zits

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

Frank and Ernest

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

 
Garfield

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

Blondie

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

 
Sally Forth

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

Peanuts

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

 
Pickles

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

Beetle Bailey

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

 
Rose is Rose

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

Wizard of Id

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

 
Baldo

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B4

Word Sleuth

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B5

 
Cryptoquote

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B5

Crossword

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B5

 
Sudoku

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B5

Bridge

By Daily Republic Syndicated Content | From Page: B5